Respect.

The word rippled across Hinata's mind as her thoughts wandered, her naked body quickly numbing under the pouring waterfall.

Respect.

What was respect? she thought. She had gained it from her sister, she had gained it from Neji, of all people, but not her father, and not Naruto. At least, not to her knowledge. He acknowledged her existence, acknowledged she was strong, but… respect? As a person?

"I don't know…"

A memory flashed through her head as she muttered silently.

"Neji," she had said, "May… May I ask you a favor?"

Neji turned, and it struck her just how much he disliked her. His eyes, calm and pale, just as hers, roared in anger. He wanted to say no. He wanted to slap her across the face and ask why someone so worthless would want him to do her a favor, why he was subject to someone so… so much weaker than himself.

"Of course, Hinata-sama," he replied, bowing his head. The way he said sama, it was as if he was spitting it, just trying to get the bitter taste from his mouth.

"Hinata," she corrected forcefully. "I don't care if you use honorifics, Neji, but if you're going to say it like that, then I want you to call me Hinata."

Neji was taken aback. "Yes, Hinata," he said, slightly confused. "What do you want?"

"I want to fight you."

"What?"

"One hundred percent. All out. I want to fight you."

"Hinata, do you honestly think your heart can take another beating?"

Hinata smiled. Good, he was speaking his mind, saying things exactly the way he thought them. He wouldn't hold back, if he accepted.

"From you?" she said, her nose rising slightly in the air. "You're going to give me another beating?"

Perfect, she thought, watching his eyes narrow. Play to his pride. No way he'll back down now.

"Tsunade is a powerful healer," Neji said, his anger rising, "but I don't honestly think she could repair all the damage I did during the Chuunin exam."

"Listen, Neji," Hinata said, smiling, "I know you hate me. I know you have no respect for me. I know you hate that I'm the heir and you're stronger than me."

"No, I-"

"If anything, fight me and show me you're right."

Silence. Neji thought about it, and grinned, his eyes narrowed. "One hundred percent?"

Hinata nodded, smiling. "All out."

"Fine. Now?"

Hinata pulled off her sweatshirt and tossed it aside. "Right now."

"In the corridor?"

Hinata attacked.

She lost, of course. It was true that he was stronger than her, faster than her, and a bit more strategic than her. Hinata even knew that going into the fight. But something within Neji changed as he felt her first blow land. The feeling grew as the fight progressed. Maybe it was the fact that she had broken his left arm in two places. Maybe it was that she had sealed enough chakra pores to significantly hinder him. Maybe it was the four of his ribs she had broken with a single strike that she had made while upside down. Maybe it was the fact that she countered most of his sixty-four strikes and continually got back up as soon as he could knock her down.

Maybe it was that she had swept his legs out from under him and ripped off his forehead protector just before succumbing to her chakra strain by falling unconscious.

Neji had been the last one standing, yes, but Hinata had been no pushover. And when Hinata awoke a day later and saw him sitting at her bedside covered in bandages and casts, she couldn't help but chuckle slightly.

"Guess you won," Hinata said quietly, a satisfied smile on her face. "Did… I do okay in the eyes of Fate?"

"That was amazing," he said, smiling, laughing even, "Hinata-sama."

He had said it genuinely then, out of respect and admiration. It wasn't so disgusting anymore that he had spit it out.

She groaned slightly as she sat up and faced him. "Hinata," she corrected again, wincing slightly as she tenderly poked her ribs. "Just Hinata, Neji."

A fish flopped onto Hinata's head, and she was pulled out of her thoughts. Instinctively, she caught it before it could enter the pond, her arm flashing out almost faster than the eye could see.

So, to gain Naruto's respect, I have to beat the crap out of him?

Hinata chucked the fish in frustration, skipping it twice across the forest pool's surface before it plopped into the water.

But I've fought him once already! I've already proved I can't beat the crap out of him! She wanted to cry and whine like a child again.

At least, not with a sword. There has to be another way!

Have you tried being like normal girls? Have you tried being touchy-feely? Boys tend to notice if you get really close.

You mean have I tried being a SLUT? No, I haven't. And I won't.

It would work, though. He's never had a girl paw him up before. Or paw him down, for that matter…

Hinata began to sink back into the water as she held her head in her hands and cried.

You're not me! I'm not like this!

Yes you are.

No! I don't think like that!

Yes you do. You're as vulgar and perverse and wrathful and sex-driven as the rest of the world, Hinata. I only let it out. I only help you do exactly what you want.

Who are you?!

WHAT are you?!

Hinata ceased the molding of chakra, and began to sink back under the water. Her body was pushed under the surface from the waterfall's force, and she lost focus, lost contact with the other Hinata inside her. Honestly, she was glad. She didn't want to know who or what she really was inside. Ignorance would be bliss.

She spluttered to the surface and intentionally stopped questioning. Better to leave it alone as long as possible. Better not to face this… THING inside of her. Ignore it.

Hinata slowly worked her way over to the bank of the pond, and pulled herself out of the water, shivering in the cold. She quickly ran her towel over her naked, wet body, and hurriedly dried her hair, wrapping it up before it could cling uncomfortably to her skin. Her clean clothes felt soft, inviting, and she wanted to sink inside them. No, she wanted to pull on her cozy, fuzzy pajama top and pants, pull on a hoodie, snuggle into bed with a stuffed animal, and watch a romantic movie with a huge bowl of popcorn and a shirtless, smiling Naruto feeding her chocolate and strawberries, but that was simply out of the question.

Seek comfort where you can, she remembered her father saying once, when she was much, much younger, before she had disappointed him.

Clothed and slowly warming, she set off into the forest towards the camp, trying very hard not to let herself think.

You can't ignore me, Hinata.

I can try.

You'll fail. And you'll find that you might need me in the future.

Need you?! To do what?! To turn myself into a tramp?! To trick and seduce Naruto?! I don't want him that way! I want him of his own free will! I want HIM, not his body! And I want him to want ME, not my body!

Then explain your fantasies.

They're fantasies! You can hardly say that's the real me! I'm human! Human's think about se… se… making b-babies…

The other Hinata chuckled.

Fine…

And was silent.

I'm really a pitiful girl, Hinata thought. I can barely even THNK the word… s-sex…

Byakugan…

Shino sat by the Boy's tent stroking a sleeping Akamaru's fur, Kiba and Naruto still slept, and Sakura was inside the Girl's tent, packing supplies.

Hinata focused on Naruto's sleeping form as she walked towards the Girl's tent. He looked so peaceful, his burning, red chakra flowing serenely through him.

I bet HE never has to worry about another presence inside of him, she thought. HE never has to fight the demons inside…

She pulled the tent flap open and smiled at Sakura as she ducked inside. "How… much time do we have left?" she asked, her voice soft and low.

"About an hour and a half," Sakura answered. "I'm nearly ready, so I'll make breakfast for everyone."

Hinata nodded, and grabbed her pack and sword. "I'll help when I'm done," she said.

She quickly disappeared through the tent flap again, and walked back into the woods, to a completely secluded grove of trees. Nobody was around, though she could see that Shino was trying to rouse the boys. Kiba wasn't responding well. He kept pushing Shino away and hiding deeper and deeper inside his sleeping bag. Naruto had gotten up, and was trying to figure out where his shirt had gone during the night. Not that Hinata was compla—

There, you see?

No! That… No! It's not something I could help!

Hypocrite.

I'm not like that!

Be honest with yourself, Hinata.

SHUT UP!

And it did.

Hinata shook her head and dropped the Byakugan, reveling in the pale, pseudo-light the moon cast upon the ground. Slowly, she pulled off her warm, normal clothes, and pulled on her underwear. The steel-wire mesh shirt and shorts came next, fitting loosely against her skin. With careful ease, she slipped the female fitted breastplate over her head and adjusted it, tightening the straps on the side so it was tight, yet comfortable and mobile. Finally, she changed the bandage on her hand, and pulled on her gauntlets, strapping them tightly to her forearms.

With all her armor on, she slipped her pants on, tied on her leg guards, pulled on her sandals, and began to stretch, working through any movements that were too tight, readjusting things here and there, warming her muscles. When she felt ready, she slipped on her newest hoodie, which was grey and black, less baggy, more form fitting, and shorter, only extending to an inch past her navel. This allowed room for her blade.

Hinata considered this the most important part of her ANBU uniform. She bent down and grabbed the sheathed sword, and placed it on her lower back. There she held it with one hand as she tied the sword around her waist. It rested just above her hips on her back, the blade's sheath parallel with the ground.

All that was left would be her mask and her cloak, things she felt could wait until they were ready to move in about an hour. She turned gracefully, and walked back to camp, where Sakura was slowly starting a fire.

"We've got riceballs, some sushimi, and some pork we can cook up, plus tea, of course," Sakura said. "I can't wait until we reach the Cloud and can infiltrate. At least then we can pretend to be civilians…"

"Not that kind of mission, Sakura," Shino said through a mouthful of sushimi. "We won't be assuming civilian identities this time around. We'll be sticking to shadows while we infiltrate the Raikage and figure out his plans."

"No… no tea? No civilized food?"

"You could always steal it, you know, Sakura-chan," Naruto said, climbing out of his tent, pulling his wire mesh shirt on. "Hey, Shino, why don't we just catch or kill this guy and claim the reward? Or better yet, take some of his techniques? Seems like an awful lot of work to avoid him…"

"It's not our mission," Sakura stated, placing the bamboo cups into the fire to warm and steep. "Besides, he's S-Ranked."

"So is our mission," Naruto countered. "We could take him, dattebayo!" Kiba rolled out of the tent, his hair a mess and his eyes barely open. Akamaru padded over to him and licked his cheek, growling softly. Kiba simply stared off into space.

Hinata grabbed two riceballs and sat next to Naruto on the ground. "Riceball?" she asked, offering him one, hiding her nervousness.

"Not the best breakfast," he whispered, "but with Sakura-chan cooking, that's the best we can hope for." Hinata blushed and giggled as Naruto gave her a conspiratorial wink.

"I'm a good cook, dammit!" Sakura screamed, going for Naruto's throat. He laughed and dodged, sending her sprawling into Akamaru. The dog yelped slightly, and dashed away, growling.

"Did anyone else notice that if Orochimaru was a girl, he'd be hot?" Kiba asked, his eyes glazed and empty.

Everyone stared at him, their eyes wide in shock and horror.

"He's…. he's not awake, right?"

"Somebody get that man some tea!"

"Hinata," Shino asked, worried, "what did you DO to him?"

"What?! I didn't do anything!"

In an instant, everyone was rushing around, trying to help their "fallen" comrade. Akamaru was nipping at his hair, trying to wake him all the way. Sakura was rushing the tea along. Naruto had offered to slap him across the face, but Shino had said that HE wanted to do it. Hinata was the only one who wasn't involved.

This is silly, she thought.

Soon, everyone was fully awake, and quietly eating what little breakfast they could muster. Hinata wanted another riceball, but knew that if she ate too much before jetting off through the trees, she'd get sick and slow everyone down.

"I've never seen that hoodie," Naruto said, a piece of slightly burnt pork dangling out of his mouth. Hinata avoided thinking about helping him eat it by moving up to his lips and biting into it for him. "It looks good."

Hinata blushed and smiled. "Thanks. I use it for missions. It's shorter, so I can tie my sword on back there."

"Yeah, I don't have anything special for missions. In fact, I don't have much of a wardrobe at all…"

"And nobody seems to be able to convince him that orange and black are not stealthy colors," Sakura said, handing Naruto and Hinata their tea. Shino abstained, and simply moved off to change. When he returned, Kiba was halfway dressed, and hurriedly eating some sushimi.

"Get the tent down," he commanded, looking exactly as he had when he left. Hinata noticed that everyone else wore their armor underneath their jackets or baggy clothes (though Kiba left his fuzzy hoodie unzipped) except Sakura.

It's because she doesn't wear enough, Hinata thought.

Does that make you better than her?

Shut up.

So she's a slut?

Yes, she is!

Such wrath, such jealousy, such anger… Tsk tsk.

It's YOUR fault. I wouldn't feel this way if you weren't manipulating me!

Me? I wish I could have had a hand in that last one, but you're hatred for that girl is deeper rooted than anything I could bring out of you.

No. No. It isn't I dislike her, I don't hate her. I.. I don't…

A cruel chuckle was the only answer she received.

"Hinata? You okay?" Naruto asked, looking slightly worried. "You kinda spaced out."

Hinata blushed and turned away, slowly getting to her feet. "I'm… I'm fine," she said, avoiding Shino's probing glasses. "Tired, stressed, anxious to get going before the sun comes up. That kinda stuff."

"Pre-mission shakes?" Kiba said, his voice deep and gristly, as if he'd chewed up and swallowed some tea leaves while draining his cup.

"You know how I get sometimes," Hinata said, turning her eyes on Shino as she continued. "But you also know I always come through."

Shino nodded. "So far."

The rest of the morning passed quietly, as the girls packed up their tent and their supplies, and the boys dressed and hurriedly prepared for the dash northward. The sky was a dark, navy blue when they finally came together, packs packed and armor secured. They gave each other a final inspection, making sure nobody had forgotten anything, before pulling out a spare scroll and forming the proper handseals. In a puff of smoke, their heavy packs transferred themselves to the scroll, reverting to an information form, leaving their cumbersome solid form behind.

Hinata stashed her scroll in a pocket in her cloak, its heavy fabric dark green with a bit of a high collar. The flowing, tough fabric fell just above her ankles, and hid her body and hand movements as well as provided camouflage when in dense forested areas. Her teammates did the same, whipping their cloaks on around them and slipping the scroll into one of the many hidden pockets.

Shino glanced at each of his subordinates, his face serious. "Just so we're clear," he said authoritatively, "today we are moving stealthily to avoid contact with a dangerous S-Ranked Missing Nin. We will be moving deeper into the Country of Lightning than we anticipated for today's journey. Does everyone understand this?"

Everyone snapped to attention, including Akamaru, and they saluted, stating, "Yes, sir," in unison. Hinata could see Shino's sunglasses linger on Naruto for a second, and forced herself to stay in check.

"Good. Let's get moving then. We will travel in a line formation. Kiba and Akamaru will go first, to smell ahead. Naruto, then Sakura will follow, Naruto because he's our hard hitter, Sakura because she needs to be equidistant to all members of the party in case they need medical attention. Hinata and I will bring up the rear, Hinata in back watching with Byakugan. I will be constantly sending out network bugs trying to keep a fix on his location. Naruto watch to the right, Sakura watch to the left. We'll be covered from all angles."

"What's his name again?" Kiba asked.

"Yasukana, of the Village of Hidden Cloud." Shino answered.

Hinata felt a shiver pass down her spine, but not of fear. Something within her became excited, as if it knew the name. Hinata didn't know why. The Bingo Book had been eerily vague.

"Masks on," Shino said, pulling his own over his face. Shino and Kiba's masks were shaped like Dogs, with four red stripes flashing from each cheek. Kiba's mask suited him well, an obvious choice. Shino looked at home in the mask. The completely black, circular eye holes looked exactly like his sunglasses. The mask just seemed to fit right.

Naruto pulled on his own mask, which was shaped like the Tiger. His blond hair was only partly hidden by the top of the mask, which looked similar to the Dog mask, but with more pointed ears, more catlike features, and three green whiskers from only the left cheek. Hinata liked the way his looked. It was strong and ferocious, yet, honestly, cute. At least, SHE thought it was cute.

Sakura's mask resembled the Rabbit, with long ears extending from the top of the mask, pressed flat against the top of her head. Blood red ovals sat underneath the mask's eyes, making it seem adorable, yet deadly.

Finally, Hinata donned her own Snake mask. It seemed an odd choice, but it was her assigned ANBU zodiac sign, and so it was her mask. It was plain, the nose represented only by small slits, having been pressed flat. Her eye slits were also different from everyone else's, thin and narrow as opposed to wide and circular. She assumed this was because she could use the Byakugan to simply see through the mask, but still, she hated standing out. A greenish blue set of three stripes on the right side curled in towards the center of the mask, coiled almost into a spiral.

Shino gave the command to form up, and they were off, dashing through the trees in formation. The wind would have felt good had she not been covered by cloaks and masks, but with the pace they were moving at, Hinata couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.

It's not my duty to be comfortable, she said to herself. It's my duty to watch the rear and assist in watching the front and sides. Hinata silently thanked whatever power was watching over her that Shino didn't try to talk to her, to gauge her "sanity," to figure out her emotional state and functional capacity. She didn't need that right now, especially when she felt possibly schizophrenic.

The day passed slowly. The tension hung in the air, and Hinata felt like she had to slice through it as she jumped from branch to branch. Nobody dared speak, knowing that all their efforts were to be focused solely upon watching for an enemy and being ready for a fight at the drop of a hat. At noon, Shino announced that they had passed out of the neutral countries and into the Country of Lightning, and their insane pace quickened. Now was the moment of truth, the pivotal instant.

Don't choke, something within Hinata said mockingly.

Hinata ignored it. She knew it was another four or five hours before they reached the Hidden Village of Cloud, and nothing was going to allow her to be the weak link that Yasukana struck.

Don't you want to fight him, though?

No, I don't.

Oh Hinata, poor little Hinata.

Shut up, please.

Don't you see? If you fight him and kill him, you can get whatever you want from Naruto. Fulfill every desire.

Shut UP.

And you could take him.

Please… just stop it…

With my help, I can make you stronger than anyone you know. You could be Hokage.

I don't want that!

Liar.

SHUT UP!

Liar.

WHO ARE YOU?!

You'll see soon enough. He's coming for us.

Hinata refocused, forgetting the voice. Was there something coming up behind them? No, impossible, she would have seen it. To the right? Nothing. Left?

"Um, boss?" Kiba called back. "Someone's coming. I can smell him off to the left."

Shino looked back at Hinata. "How far?"

No.

No… please…

"Hinata! How far?!"

Hinata looked, watching the mass of chakra dashing towards them, moving closer and closer, closing in quickly. "Five hundred yards," she said.

No…

Yes, Hinata. He's coming. Now is your chance. Now is OUR chance. MY chance.

Impossible.

Forget logic and seize the moment!

Hinata looked at Naruto, studying the red well of chakra within him. Slowly, she shifted her gaze to the mass of chakra approaching from the left. It too was red.

What… what does Naruto have in common with this missing nin?

"Position?"

"Left, two hundred fifty yards," Hinata said, her voice quavering.

Stop it, you don't have time for that now, Hinata!

There was a flash of light, and out of the trees came a crackling lightning bolt, headed straight for…

From the bolt of lightning sprung a huge man, a shark-like grin on his face as he pounced upon Shino, knocking him to the right, out of formation. He grabbed Shino in midair and stopped himself against a tree, standing on a limb. The team's formation halted, and spun to face the attacker. Hinata nearly slipped and fell, her eyes wide with terror. The amount of chakra in his body! It was impossible!

"Yasukana…" Naruto growled. "Let him go."

Shino was powerless as he was held up by his throat. "There's so many of you," the attacker said, his eyes wide and unblinking, glinting with malice. "You all smell delicious… Let's do this, shall we?"

With one hand, he formed a complex series of handseals, and smashed his fist upon the branch beneath him. Instantly, from the ground sprang up immeasurable amounts of water, forcing the team to scatter upwards to the tops of the trees as the water level rose. Hinata cursed and held her terror in check as she was forced to concentrate her chakra to the bottoms of her feet, and rise with the water. Yasukana had just created a three hundred yard by three hundred yard by three hundred yard cube of water, practically an ocean to anyone caught in the middle of it.

Hinata shoved all her fear and doubt away. Now was not the time for a freak-out moment. She had to figure out a way to get Shino back. Retreat wasn't an option.

Yasukana grinned malevolently at the group, then back to the struggling, masked Shinobi in his grip. "Now now," he said, "Such a young, strong ANBU man like yourself shouldn't hide his face." In an instant, Shino's mask was gone, ripped away by the powerful hands that held him, tossed aside into the water, where it floated for a moment before slowly sinking. Yasukana licked his lips as he saw Shino's face.

"So, are you one of the ones that smell exceptionally delicious?" he asked, running a hand along Shino's cheek. Slowly, Yasukana pulled his conical straw hat down, uncovering his head, letting it hang behind him around his neck. "Let's see how you taste…"

And with that, Yasukana pressed his lips to Shino's, forcing him into a deep kiss. Shino gagged slightly as the criminal's tongue forced its way around his own.

"Shino!" Kiba screamed.

Fight back! everyone screamed in their heads.

They were not disappointed. Shino finally stopped holding onto the arm that held him up, and jabbed his palms into his captor's abdomen. Hinata watched in amazement and silent terror as thousands upon thousands of Destruction Bugs began to flow from Shino's sleeves, crawling all over the man and beginning to suck the chakra from him. As an added bonus, bugs began to rise from Shino's mouth, forcing themselves inside Yasukana's own mouth, and down his throat.

The amount of chakra he's losing, Hinata thought, watching Yasukana get eaten alive by Shino's hidden weapon. No way Yasukana can recover from something like that! Shino's got him!

Yasukana gagged and pulled away, angrily throwing Shino away, skipping his body across the surface of the water. He screamed in rage, and Hinata gasped in horror as every one of his chakra pores and chakra veins began to fill with crackling, electrical red chakra. There was a brilliant flash of light from inside him, seeping out from his mouth, eyes, ears, nose, and every single pore in his body. A second later, thousands upon thousands of fried Destruction Bugs fell from his body, sinking into the water.

"…Impossible," Shino whispered before losing consciousness and sinking into the deeps.

Yasukana sighed and coughed, reached into his white, sakura blossom-emblazoned haori, and pulled out a small steel flask. Within seconds, he had drained it, and Hinata watched in horror as the chakra that he had lost in Shino's strike flowed back into him. The flask was full of pure, liquefied chakra.

"Hnnnnn…jaaaaaaaah…" Yasukana sighed. "Disgusting bug user." Yasukana growled, and wiped his grinning mouth. "You weren't even the delicious one."

"Shino! SHINO!" Kiba screamed, and ran across the surface of the water, Akamaru close behind, to the spot where Shino had sunk beneath the waves. Without a moment's hesitation, he dove, breaking the surface with a splash.

Wait! No! Don't touch the water!

Hinata's pale eyes finally noticed something horrific: everyone who was touching the water was slowly losing their chakra. The ocean seemed to drain chakra away into its depths, as if something beneath the surface was slowly devouring it.

"No! Kiba! Shino!" Hinata screamed, turning her gaze upon Akamaru, who was slowly sinking into the water, his eyes beginning to close. "Aka-"

Yasukana slammed into her like a train full of bricks, but did not give her the comfort of being sent flying. As quickly as he had knocked her back, he reversed the force by catching her wrist and pulling her close to him, holding her neck as he had with Shino.

"How about you?" he asked, grinning. Hinata could see his writhing red chakra up close, and began to wish that she was blind. It was terrifying, seething and boiling with rage and hunger, not like Naruto's at all. His was calm, though it looked strained at times. Yasukana pulled her mask away and let it fall to the water beneath, cupping her face gently. "Shall we see if you are the delicious one?"

"Get your hands off her, bastard!" Naruto yelled.

No. Please… no…

Hinata was paralyzed with fear, her eyes wide, her body shaking. She couldn't resist, she couldn't even will her muscles to contract in the slightest. Yasukana slowly released her, using both hands to cup her face and lift her gently yet forcefully to meet his own.

Oh God no…

"Get your hands off her!" Naruto yelled.

His eyes locked on hers, filled with devious delight.

Don't… Please… No! Stop!

Tears began to trickle down her face as she silently begged him to let her be. Punch her, cut her, kill her, but don't take this away from her. In a sudden, quick movement, he pressed his lips to hers. It was a forceful kiss, more like rape than romance. Hinata tried to scream, tried to fight his tongue as it forced itself into her mouth, tried to stop him from being the first man to taste her this way. But it was futile.

Suddenly, Yasukana grunted in pain, and Hinata could feel blood from his mouth trickle into her own. He pulled away, his lips and tongue bleeding even through his grin.

"Strong stuff," he whispered. "Another demon? Stronger, stronger than mine, little girl. I will enjoy devouring you."

No… Oh God no…

Demon?

How?

Please… no…

…no…

Yes.

"BASTARD!"

Yasukana gave Hinata's scared eyes a final look of gruesome glee before tossing her up into the air and spinning. His arm flashed to the huge blade on his back and drew it in a surge of lightning. Naruto's huge greatsword connected with… nothing? His opponent held nothing but a hilt, and yet, Naruto's blade was locked with what seemed to be empty air.

"She's delicious," Yasukana said, "She's one of the ones I smelt… I must have her."

"Go to Hell," Naruto said, glaring in hatred.

"Then you'll meet the same end as the last person who said that to me."

Yasukana forced his blade through, knocking Naruto back across the surface of the water. As it swung, the air where the blade should have been crackled with electricity, with thousands of bolts of lightning, all forming the shape a huge, straight sword, longer than Naruto's greatsword.

Hinata watched from the air, with fear, hatred, rage, and sadness all coursing together through her body. It was clear what she had to do. As she fell back towards the water, towards Yasukana, she closed her eyes and concentrated.

Fine. I need you.

A cruel laugh.

Yes, you do. Shall we exact your vengeance?

What is the price?

Don't get ahead of yourself, Hinata. You'll pay whatever I want once this is done.

Do we have a deal?

Yasukana looked up and prepared to catch her as she rocketed to the ground.

Yes.

Hinata flipped backwards just before Yasukana would have caught her, putting her in the perfect position to…

The first foot connected with his face, and she embraced his muffled cry of pain. The second foot caught him in the chest, and she kicked away from him, flipping backwards before landing on one knee on the water's surface. Yasukana flew backwards, but recovered relatively quickly, grinning like a man possessed.

Sakura was next to strike. She dashed towards Yasukana, her blade flashing quickly. As she approached, Yasukana's lightning blade rose to meet her ninja-to, sending electricity through the water, illuminating it with a faint blue and white light. The blades clashed, and Yasukana was knocked back. Hinata remembered Sakura's immense strength, and smiled, moving in for her own attack.

Yasukana laughed. "Physical strength alone won't save you," he said, spinning on his heel and counterattacking. Sakura was barely able to stop his attack, and tossed her cloak aside as she dove sideways. Shurikens showered her target from underneath its cover, but Yasukana flipped to the right, dodging each shuriken, making handseals with one hand as he moved through the air. He fired a thunderbolt across the water towards Sakura, who rolled across the surface to avoid.

Yasukana emerged from the electricity behind her, slashing at her, his grin malevolent. Naruto dashed in and parried, gritting his teeth under the strain.

Hinata was silent as she landed her kick, striking him right in the side of the ribs. She smiled with satisfaction as she felt a few break, and landed palm strikes on his shoulders as she flipped over to his other side.

Surrounded, she thought. He's going to have a tough time killing all three of us.

Wait… Shino! Kiba! Akamaru!

As Hinata landed on the water, readying to strike at the chakra pores in his arms, Yasukana slashed again, knocking both Naruto and Sakura away. With his free hand, he formed another intricate series of handseals and called down a thunderbolt directly on top of him, blasting Hinata back. She could feel her skin burn slightly as she flew through the air and crashed under the water.

Shit!

Whether she thought the word or the entity inside her, it made no difference. It was the correct word for the situation. Hinata could feel her chakra leaking out of her as she struggled to break the surface. Even when she had climbed atop the water, chakra seemed to drip out of her with the small droplets that ran down her body.

Sakura had gone down hard as well, and Hinata saw that she was almost completely out of chakra as she struggled to stand. Only Yasukana and Naruto stood unphased, their burning red wells of chakra constantly refilling.

Dammit! Where's the power you promised me!?

As you wish.

Naruto and Yasukana slashed at each other, sending sparks into the water wherever they clashed. Hinata watched Sakura stagger to her feet only to fall, splashing and sinking beneath the waves. Hinata could feel herself doing the same, dripping chakra. She struggled to her feet, trying hard to regain her balance.

The water… the water… we have to get off the water… get… off…

Hinata felt her grip on consciousness slipping, could feel her weakness taking over.

You pathetic wretch.

Hinata closed her eyes and took a step into the air.

Instantly, the chakra drain disappeared, as she stood on air not an inch above the water. Power burned within her, painfully trying to find an outlet. Hinata's eyes reopened, and she nearly cried out in fear.

It was as if she was a bystander in her own head, simply watching things unfold from her own point of view. Hinata had little to no control over her body as she dashed along the air and bashed into Yasukana's sword arm, just as he was bringing it down on Naruto. Yasukana went flying, recovering much later than all the other times he had been sent rolling through the air.

"N-N-Naruto…" Hinata whimpered. "Grab everyone and get them out of here."

"Like hell I will! I won't leave you to face him alone!"

Hinata turned to face him, her eyes scared and afraid, a tear trickling down her cheek. "Please, Naruto, get them out of here before I kill them all."

In a burst of red chakra, Hinata's cheeks began to form feral whiskery marks, her teeth elongated to sharp points, her fingernails grew longer, more sinister and claw-like, and her pale lavender eyes changed from pale lavender to red, with a lavender vertical pupil. Her eyes narrowed and Hinata grinned, staring back at a stunned Naruto.

"Hello, Uzumaki Naruto," she said, her voice dangerously deeper.

Naruto stumbled backwards, eyes wide in shock and terror. Hinata laughed, and turned to face Yasukana as he rose and swept his long black hair back out of his face.

"So, you finally show your true form. Tainted, I see. Trapped inside a human," he said.

"So you're the demon eater I heard about before I was sealed. I thought you'd be taller."

Naruto turned and ran, diving beneath the waves in search of Shino, Kiba, and Akamaru.

No way, he thought. No no no nonononononononono! Kyuubi is still inside me! This isn't possible!

In the distance, Naruto could see Kiba, still trying to swim deeper towards a drowning, unconscious Shino, Akamaru on his back. Naruto swam faster than him, and caught up with him. Kiba's eyes bulged painfully, and he too lost consciousness. Naruto swore silently, and swam deeper, collecting Shino and carrying him under his arm. He grabbed Kiba and Akamaru on his way up, and draped them across his back.

It's not possible!

It's true Naruto, there's another me inside that girl.

Bastard! How'd you do it!?

You moron, I wouldn't be trapped inside you if I could break free. Do you understand this is as much a problem for me as it is for you?! My odds of tearing you apart from the inside out are severely dwindled if there's a Kyuubi clone already tearing you apart from the outside! She doesn't have a damned seal holding her back! I… well, the me that's inside her could burst through at any moment.

Shut up! If I drown here, you go with me!

…Dammit, I hate you.

Naruto burst through the water, climbing up and grabbing Sakura around the waist. The water and the added weight of the four bodies he was carrying began to tire him as he dashed away from Hinata and Yasukana, the demons facing off upon the surface of the water. He caught a glimpse of a red aura forming around Hinata's body. An ear, a tail, an arm and half a leg emerged, glowing evilly in red.

Sakura screamed, startling Naruto out of his mind. Had she seen Hinata?! Naruto kneed her lightly in the head, and she fell unconscious.

"You're incomplete, Kyuubi. Barely even a tail to save your life," Yasukana said, gripping the hilt of his sword, the blade nonexistent.

"I've been replicating inside this girl's heart, but I assure you, I will be whole again once I devour you, then her."

"Big talk," Yasukana said, grinning from ear to ear, "little girl. You'll have to break free of that body first."

His blade flashed with lightning as it swung towards her. Hinata dashed sideways, then, as if she had formed the air into a wall, sprung towards him. He attacked again, but she simply ran along a circular wall of air to his back, and flipped, sending a powerful kick between his shoulderblades. Yasukana grunted and stumbled a step forward, but spun quickly, using the kick's momentum to carry him away from his assailant as his sword flashed again. Hinata simply dodged, standing on air and running along invisible platforms when it suited her needs.

"I see," Yasukana said, trying to keep up, "You're using the girl's amazing chakra control and your almost limitless supply to apply only as much pressure on the air around your feet that the air is applying to you. That's how you can run on air."

"The girl has her talents," Hinata said, striking relentlessly with her sword, slashes that Yasukana's own blade had a hard time parrying. Yasukana managed to knock her back, but she simply flipped back and spring-boarded off of the air behind her, catching Yasukana in the stomach. As they flew through the air together, Hinata focused her mind on her new jutsu, and effectively doubled her speed and perception. Her palms moved faster than Yasukana could keep up with, and she struck him repeatedly with a million tiny piercing beams of chakra as well as physical blows.

She grabbed him around his waist and swung herself around his massive bulk, latching into his back with her teeth, and proceeding to pound on him, sealing the majority of his chakra pores and causing some serious damage. Yasukana screamed in rage, yet the sadistic, hungry grin never left his face. Lightning crashed from the sky, forcing Hinata to flip off of Yasukana's back, but not before leaving a deep gash along his right shoulder.

Above!

Yasukana had traveled along the bolt, and hung in the air, forming seals as fast as his hands could manage them.

"Kuchiyose no jutsu!" he screamed as he slowly began to fall back towards the ocean's surface.

- - - - - -

Naruto sighed slightly in relief when he finally reached the end of Yasukana's huge ocean. It seemed the water just stopped, and Naruto dashed off the edge, landing lightly on branches of trees far below him. Good thing, too, because he was getting tired, and he still needed to wake up Sakura and help Hina—

That girl is gone. You will have to kill her.

I'm not going to kill Hinata. And you KNOW I have other options.

Killing her is safer.

For you or for me, bastard?

…Damn you.

Naruto landed deftly on the ground, and carefully dumped the bodies he was carrying on their backs.

"Sakura! Sakura!" he yelled, slapping the girl's stomach. "Wake up! There are two men and a dog that need CPR and I don't know how to do it!"

Sakura coughed and spluttered slightly, slowly trying to sit up.

"You don't remember CPR?" she mumbled, glaring at him. Naruto shook his head. "You have to be the worst ninja ever."

"Yup, you're right, can you save them now?" Naruto said hurriedly, glancing nervously at the giant wall of water not seventy feet away.

Sakura rolled over onto Shino's chest, pulled her mask off, and tilted his head back, opening his airways. Naruto had to look away as she pressed her open mouth to Shino's, trying very hard not to think about how many bugs had flowed from that same mouth.

Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled in the distance, illuminating the water for only a second. Naruto gaped in horror as the light revealed a silhouette beneath the waves. It was a shark. It was huge. And it had three fins.

Naruto swore loudly and dashed up the nearest tree, jumping as high as he could before he had to dash up the ever flowing yet stable wall of water.

"Naruto! Where are you…?" Sakura began. She was scared, and she was going to be alone very soon. Naruto ignored her.

"I'm coming, Hinata," he whispered. "Hang on."

- - - - - -

"Clever ruse, Yasukana, but you didn't sacrifice any blood," Hinata yelled, grinning evilly.

Yasukana cursed as he began to fall to the surface.

Below!

Hinata grinned as she ran straight up a vertical wall of air, just as the giant demon shark, jaws open wide, burst through the surface below where she had been standing not a moment before. It rose, following after, nearly overtaking its prey, until Hinata flipped back off the air and delivered a kick to the shark's huge nose. The blow sent it off to the side, crashing violently back into the ocean, wailing in pain.

"You kicked my shark," Yasukana said stupidly, shocked, as he landed on the water. Hinata laughed, and fell as well, landing a foot above the waves, facing off against Yasukana once again.

Yasukana fired and rode a thunderbolt back into the sky, and began to rain down electricity upon the half-formed Kyuubi girl. She flipped and spun upon the air gracefully, returning fire with her own beams of chakra. Yasukana began riding his thunderbolts down, dangerously close to Hinata, who flipped and spun, avoiding miraculously. Yasukana would emerge, slash, only to be parried as Hinata rolled along the air and dove upwards. He would return to a bolt, and blast past her, attacking with more lightning, only to see her handspring away, and then spin upon her fingertips, using only the air molecules underneath them, and still have time to give him something to think about with her palms as he passed.

It was a furious flurry of attacks, and Hinata dodged and countered them all, upside down, on her side, spinning upon her heels and fingertips. It was impossible!

Yasukana lashed out once more, but this time, Hinata had him just where she wanted. She ducked under his strike, and grabbed his wrist with her free hand, forcing her ninja-to clear through his arm. He screamed in pain as the blade twisted in the wound, and Hinata gripped his forearm and threw him away. Yasukana rolled upon the water twice, and flashed towards her, screaming in rage, crackling with electricity.

"Fool," Hinata smirked.

Her arms lashed out and caught the bolt of lightning, simply holding it in place right in front of her. Yasukana emerged, grinning with his unwavering, sharp teeth and his unblinking stare, screaming in triumph as he brought down the final strike.

A claw burst from Hinata's chest, its fur red and its arm skinny, rippling with sinew and muscle, dripping in Hinata's blood. The paw reached up and caught Yasukana's blade, holding it infinitely still. Slowly, the hole in Hinata's chest opened wider, and a head, the red snout of a huge fox, pushed itself from her body.

You're killing me!

I know. Fool. You made a deal with a demon.

Stop…

"I am finally free," the fox said, grinning, its voice dripping with evil. "I will devour you and become whole again, Yasukana. And then I will devour what is left of this girl, and that prison Naruto."

"Impossible…" Yasukana whispered, still grinning from ear to ear. "I MUST eat you now!"

"HINATAAAA!"

Naruto?

There was a flash of orange and black coming between the emerging fox and Yasukana, and Naruto, a Rasengan in each hand, forced them apart. The Kyuubi emerging from Hinata's chest screamed in fury as the swirling chakra struck it in the face, causing Hinata to cough, no, vomit blood as she fell and splashed into the water. Yasukana screamed in pain as he was thrust away, finally splashing into the water himself.

Yasukana rose spluttering, laughing. "So what will you do?" he cried out to Naruto. "I am weakened, and you might be able to kill me, but there's a demon bursting from your pretty little friend's chest. Kill me, and she'll die. Save her, and I live."

Naruto had already turned and reached underwater, pulling Hinata's broken, small body from the depths. "Make no mistake, Yasukana, I will kill you," Naruto said, before dashing off across the surface of the water.

Hinata opened her eyes, slightly. She was being carried, something was slowly returning to her chest, which had a gaping hole in it, and her eyes stung with sweat and blood and tears.

Wha…?

She gently, slowly reached up and pulled the mask away from her rescuer's face.

"Naruto…" she whined. "What's happening to me?"

Naruto said nothing. There was nothing to say.

"Na…Naruto?" Hinata pleaded, begged. Tears began to stream from her eyes as they returned to normal, her red aura flickering and fading as the Kyuubi completely returned to her body. "What am I?"

The truth will kill her if the Kyuubi doesn't, he thought.

Naruto remained silent, and simply watched as Hinata passed out.